A 91ST MINUTE PENALTY earned a share of the spoils for Derry City Reserves at Leckview Park in the Ulster Senior League against Letterkenny Rovers this afternoon.
Letterkenny Rovers 2-2 Derry City
Rovers (pictured above by Stephen Doherty) lead twice, with Darren McElwaine , but Derry clung on with equalisers from Ronan Curtis and Ryan Curran.
It concluded an entertaining contest; disappointment for Rovers in not holding on but Derry – who contained seven Donegal players in their matchday squad – might even have won it after drawing level so late.
Eamon McConigley’s Letterkenny team hit the front on seven minutes when McElwaine got in behind and slotted past Mark McElhinney following a ball forward from Tristian Ferris.
It was the very least the home side deserved, with Paul McVeigh twice going close in the opening stages.
Derry got on terms with their first real opportunity of the contest when a free-kick from the left-hand side by Gareth McFadden’s delivery was headed home by Ronan Curtis.
Four minutes before half-time, McElwaine’s bask header from a free from Mark Forker had McElhinney struggling only for the ball to drift wide.
Rovers got back in front after a good move that saw Kevin McGrath draw a save from McElhinney. However, from the resultant corner delivered by McGrath, Forker was inches away from connecting before McElwaine bundled the ball over the line.
Derry claimed for handball but referee Michael Connolly awarded the goal and at the break, it was 2-1 to the Leckview Park residents.
The Derry City Reserve team that took on Letterkenny Rovers this afternoon
Curran, almost got away at the start of the second half only to see his progress halted by two Rovers defenders. At the other end, McGrath followed up – after McElwaine and Forker had shots blocked initially – only to drive over the crossbar.
On 65 minutes, Derry thought they’d levelled when a ball in from Curran struck Ryan Lonergan, the Rovers defender. However, the probable own goal was diverted as Conal McGonigle cleared off the line.
It ebbed and flowed then towards the finish with Derry pushing the case more and more.
Terence Shiels of Letterkenny Rovers moves in to close down Derry City Reserves’ Adrian Delap in the Ulster Senior League clash at Leckview Park this afternoon
Ten minutes from time, Sean Friel in the Rovers goal made a brilliant double save, first of all to deny Curran and then the follow-up from Curtis.
On 89 minutes, a lob from former Letterkenny Rovers player Adrian Delap went just over and it appeared the game was up.
But a minute into injury time, Curran slotted a penalty past Friel for 2-2 after McFadden was taken down. The visitors almost stole it at the end when Delap saw a late effort blocked.
Letterkenny Rovers: Sean Friel; Ryan Lonergan, Tristian Ferris (Terence Shiels 60), Paul Boyle, Conal McGonigle; Garbhan Grant, Mark Forker, Tommy Bonner, Kevin McGrath; Paul McVeigh, Darren McElwaine.
Derry City Reserves: Mark McElhinney; Paul Doherty (Sam Todd 50), Shane Boyle, Jack Blake (Cathal Farren 69), Gareth McFadden; Rory Holden, Ryan Doherty, Ben Doherty, Adrian Delap; Ryan Curran, Ronan Curtis.
Referee: Michael Connolly.
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